One thing Anko was sure about is in this life, more than her love for sweets and killing, was that she didn't like kids at all. Not even when they were handy, cute and not able to speak properly, not even when they weren't born yet. Kids bothered her to no end and that was one of the major reasons she didn't want to have a genin team under her charge. The kids were so dumb and stupid, and sometimes so annoying that she couldn't believe she used to be one. Pestering her with silly questions about life, about work, about anything, much to her dismiss. Actually she thought that her infancy was the worst facet in her whole life and if she had the opportunity to erase it, she'll do it gladly. Not that she had many pleasant memories on it, in fact she didn't remember a thing she liked when she was a kid. So being assigned to take care of this grown up baby that was able to talk, walk and command her, didn't seem like the most wonderful idea someone had come up to. Somebody is gonna get a hurt real bad.
Anko was still staring at the prince with something that resembled anger, not only she screwed up with the mission she had to repay her failure with something she wasn't even sure she would do fine, body guarding an important person wasn't her favorite subject back in her academy years. In fact she wasn't even sure if she was able to do that, when she was learning to be a shinobi she left the village with her former sensei, so she missed all those classes where she was supposed to learn how to protect the innocent and how to deal with them and when she got back she was too old to be in the academy, so she learned the way of the ninja by her own. Plus she wasn't the social type person, she rather choose missions that involved killing and taking information than body guarding some suck up people with money. But it was her fault and by the way the feudal lord looked, she had no choice but to accept the nanny job.
Kakashi was relieved that the feudal lord didn't report them to Tsunade-sama, the only thing he didn't need was the fifth Hokage over their asses. Then again this was the first mission he partially failed in long years, he knew it wasn't over but for some reason, the bitterness of the defeat was still haunting him. Trying to look calm to the sudden announce of the prince being stuck with them for the rest of the days of the mission even though he didn't like a piece of it in any single way. Still he rather chose that than being reported to Tsunade-sama. Kakashi looked at his partner as seeing her as displeased as he, he smiled mentally. At least he wasn't alone in this and seeing the appearances of the prince, this wasn't exactly a nanny job, just body guarding a prince that Kakashi hoped he wasn't spoiled like most of the princes he met before.
-In that case I leave the rest to you, Mr and Mrs. Hatake. Right now I have to leave with my counselors and fix the last preparations for the Dragon Fly festival. Take care of my son and don't let anything to happen to him, understand?
Both shinobi nodded and with a faint smile the feudal lord stood up and taking his crook with his right hand he made his way out of the room. Once the door was closed, Anko looked up to the jounin next to her and without words they both agreed and walked to the prince's position. However he was already next to them, still smiling like before and some glittering in his eyes that resembled something Kakashi knew well, the same glittering Naruto had each time he had a bowl of ramen in front of him. Sighing and trying to look impassive he greeted the prince with fierce eyes. Akihiko however didn't get the idea and with a childish move he moved to their backs and placed his hands over the shoulder of them. Snickering he made his way in the middle of the couple and grinning he checked both shinobi.
-Now… where to go my fellow guardians?
Kakashi felt the uttering desire of killing annoying brats emerging on Anko's face, in fact she was so tense and pissed that he could almost breathe the anger flowing inside of her. She was a mess of emotions and this new assignment he was positive that it was the last thing she needed. Also it was something he knew perfectly well wasn't Anko's strength, in fact he wondered why she was the chunin's proctor when she didn't like kids to begin with. Probably because she loves to scare the crap out of them. The copy ninja sensed some movement and with a simple gesture his partner removed the prince's hand from her shoulder and walked two steps forward, heading to the door the feudal lord just took moments ago. Ignoring both men she stretched herself and scratched her neck with one hand before taking a deep sigh and turning around to face them.
-Is there any place were we can kill some time in this tiny village?
Akihiko smiled and walked towards her, pulling with him Kakashi under his arm and fixing his hair with his free hand.-Of course there is! We have plenty of things in here to entertain our visitors with.
-Good.-placing both of her hands in her pocket.- Now if you please your majesty.-faking a little bow and spiting the majesty while glaring at the prince.
Kakashi was about to burst into laughter for the pantomimic she just did but decided to save it for later. Looking up at the tall prince he checked if his partner didn't offend him… too much. But since he was still smiling and fixing his hair, Kakashi knew that even if he got the sarcasm on Anko's comment, he didn't give a damn about it. The only thing the silver haired jounin wished was that the prince let him go from his embrace, it was really awkward for him to stay next to a taller guy that was holding him firmly even if it was from the shoulder it was still awkward, not even Asuma was this daring. After a slow and painful wait and some "what if" situation crossing over Kakashi's mind, the prince let him go and walked next to Anko much to his dislike, now Anko was occupying his spot making the situation more complicated with the taking care of this, with all due pardon, asshole.
--
The tiny village as Anko perceived through her window that morning was nothing compared with the astonishing view she got once she was outside the magnificent castle. All kinds of plants and trees decorated the scene, humongous trees covered most of the houses with their big green leafs, making the effect of an emerald cascade flowing down straight to the big swamp over their ceilings, hiding gracefully the houses that were built in the trunk of an imposing tree. Many shades of green and brown decorated the place, the majority of the houses were built almost in every possible spot while the others defied the gravity by being hanged over a huge branch rocking smoothly in the air. But the houses that the kunoichi found more interesting were the ones floating over the green water. They seemed like they were built over a tiny spot of dirt that the water left uncovered, but looking closely you could the firm trunks holding these pieces of art.
Many houses were refurnished to be premises, maintaining the same wood style but with some touches of modern technology. Some of the buildings, that were like three houses pilled together more likely, were painted in cherry red with emerald. The windows were carved on the wood manually and each detail, Anko suspected, was handmade also. Most of the villagers were walking quickly in and out of their homes, taking with them tools and other type of materials that Anko couldn't identify from that far. She wondered if everything had something to do with the festival, but once she saw a young man nailing a flag with white characters above his door she knew she was right. All the people in the city seemed busy with the preparations of the festival, the boats rowed faster while carrying wild flowers on them, ladies knitting green scarves for their children and husbands, men nailing things almost in every spot available, even the animals that lived there were enthusiastic about their surroundings giving the impression that they knew perfectly well what was about to happen.
Anko blinked several times and still not convinced of what she saw she rubbed her eyelids with both hands and once her sight was clear, her brain confirmed what her brownish eyes already saw. This village in fact was beautiful. Feeling the urge of jumping off the balcony in that instant and start exploring the village by herself, she stretched herself ready to accomplish her selfish desire, unfortunately a soft cough on her back brought her back from her dreamland. Arching her brow and crossing her arms over her chest she waited patiently for whatever the suck up prince may come up to. However he didn't say anything, instead he held position still smiling and looking relaxed. With some simple gestures he started fixing his curly coffee colored hair with one hand and scratching his hairless beard with the other. Anko pronounced more her brow and for the first time in her life she decided to take seriously a mission in her whole life so unfolding her arms she decided to give a go to her acting classes.
-So… your majesty. What do you like to do?.-smiling and blinking innocently.
Kakashi was pleased that even the rough and tough Anko could manage to fake a smile like that, even he could be fooled easily with that innocent face. But he knew pretty well that she was far from the innocent concept. Looking discretely to the prince from the corner of his eye, he waited for the positive reaction. As usual the copy ninja was right about the prince being fooled by that simple trick every shinobi/kunoichi in the world knew. But the only thing he didn't expect was the chestnut haired prince walk straight to the kunoichi and with his usual cocky smile printed on his lips he took Anko's hand and approached to his lips.
-Anything that involves such beauty as my company.
Anko took a deep breath and released her hand softly from his grip suffocating the urge to punch such daring. Instead she smiled politely and nodded.-It would be my pleasure.
Kakashi swore his good eye had already pop out of his skull and regenerated so it could pop out again. What the hell was going on? What just did happen? If by any chance crazier than usual? Even tough his mind was spinning with many questions, his face didn't show up nothing else from the stoic face he usually wore. The prince grabbed Anko's hand and started leading her to the exit when she remembered her partner, still stoic and serene like his usual self holding his position. Blinking in confusion she shook her hand in front of his gaze, bringing the copy ninja back from the inside of his head. In her eyes Kakashi read the question and with a simple nod he started following them smoothly so he couldn't be noticed and also to keep a close eye to the bizarre prince that walk like a duck in front of him. Getting inside the castle once more and heading straight to a staircase which leads to the front yard of the Swamp country's castle.
--
Anko was fascinated with all the possibilities ahead, even tough the festival wasn't fully prepared yet, there were some spots that already were announcing their products or entertainments. Almost all the people the trio crossed their way were surprised by the presence of the prince and his singular bodyguards he, however, wasn't that impressed and waved politely to everyone that met his eyes. Anko didn't care about the strange gazes, she was so pleased with the idea of trying every single dessert available on the celebration however Kakashi wasn't that happy. While following and supervising both kids he realized that in the case of a surprise attack during the festival, which he was positive it will, it will be a nightmare to keep an eye on the landscape because due to the beauty of the place it also was its weakness, too many hideouts and windows to jeopardize the life of the feudal lord and his son and not to mention the missing part of the scroll.
The kunoichi was distracted by all the preparation when she felt something hurl against her knees, confused and irritated she looked down trying to kill whatever thought it would be funny to piss off a kunoichi in the middle of her daydreaming when a pair of hazel eyes met her brownish ones. It was a little girl with a simple white dress with spaghetti straps and reached to her knees. Due to the impact the girl was on the floor rubbing her head but keeping her eye on the giant that crossed her way. Anko blinked a couple of times before smirking and kneeling in front of her. The girl started to shake a little, she tried to run away but apparently her feet wasn't cooperating and the only thing left was to wait for whatever the stranger was about to do to her.
The fear filled Anko's nostrils, delighted she licked her lips and put her face at the same level of the little girl. Pleased she confirmed that it was a matter of seconds before the little brat started to cry, the only thing needed was a little push and the little girl will break into a sea of tears and a permanent trauma will be carved in the subconscious of the girl for the rest of her life, thanks to the kunoichi that decided to play just to kill time. Sadly for her a hand interrupted her eye contact, the girl confused looked up to the owner of it and started to blush at the gaze of the owner. Akihiko was looking warmly to the little girl and offering his right hand he helped the little girl to get on her feet. Smiling shyly the girl fixed her white dress and picking some of mushrooms that were scattered due to the impact and putting them on her skirt, she smiled to the prince and ran away as fast as her legs could.
Furious Anko rose up and looked and tried to stab the prince with her deadly glare until she realized two things: there was no case recorded in the history of human kind that there was a person killed by a glare and that she was trying to murder a prince, the same prince she was supposed to protect. Grinding her teeth she walked in front of both men looking for nothing in particular and trying to ignore the fact that the schmuck that followed her like a lapdog took her diversion away, just because he decided to be an ass about it and help the little brat that crashed on her legs. And what if it wasn't the girl's fault who cares?! She didn't obviously, besides it was her damn fault for being a klutz, tiny, dumbfound and so stupid for not looking to the way she ran to.
Kakashi wasn't sure if he should be smiling or sighing, perhaps both. At first he was scared that she would try something wicked with the innocent girl, which he was sure she would if she had the chance. But even though the prince stopped such commotion with the almighty power of a smile and his generousness for being royalty, now Anko was pissed in a way that the copy ninja found hilarious. He could even tell the thoughts that crossed the kunoichi's mind, most of them involved some deadly techniques applied on the prince which he was curious to see if she would dare to, but since their mission was to protect that ass might as well to forget about those silly ideas. But like people like to say, there's no harm or bill in dreaming right?
Anko was still scheming some possible ways of having her payback without killing Akihiko when a delightful smell filled her entire body, making her to walk without even looking to the place her nose picked such beauty. Akihiko noticed this and looking over his right shoulder he searched for an approval sign coming from the jounin behind him, instead he found a resigned face coming from the silver haired ninja, nodding both men followed her to the hollow on a huge tree that crossed their path. Anko was already sat on a trunk chair on the corner, smiling vividly and with chopsticks in her right hand and a little bowl on the other. Kakashi sighed and walked to her with both hand in his pockets and sitting to her right, while Akihiko did his usual caravans for being royalty and then took place to the right of Kakashi, much to his dismay.
A teenage waitress made her way to that peculiar table and bowing in respect to the prince she started to take the order. Kakashi just asked for a glass of water, Akihiko copied the jounin but with a slice of lemon in it and Anko ordered whatever the small restaurant specialized in, preferably something with lots of sugar in it. The jounin rolled his visible eye but smiled discreetly under his mask. While waiting both shinobi looked around, watching every single particular detail on it, looking for anything suspicious or out of normal. Instead they found much to their relief a safe place to have a meal and decided to relax a little. It wasn't too long until the girl appeared with a wood tray with a plate of steamy veggies with mushrooms and something similar to chicken, two glasses of water and a cup of green tea. Anko took the first bite without even thanking for the meal when she realized it was kind of weird the mixture and in fact it wasn't chicken, it was tougher and slightly different and chewing it again she confirmed that it was spiced duck.
The meal went smoothly, some random chit chat mainly coming from the prince with some random stories about the festival, what it's tradition and the itinerary for this year. Anko was falling in a drowsiness, she wasn't sure if it was due to the food, the boring chat of the prince or both, so she decided to keep her hands busy with something so she wouldn't fall asleep right there on the rustic table. While looking for something to do, her fingers touched accidentally the knee of the person to her right, the owner however wasn't that happy with that minor caress.
Anko smiled devilishly and touched his knee again but this time running her index a little to his mid thigh. Kakashi suppressed the low moan emerging on his lips and glared the kunoichi next to him. Anko just ignored him and continued to do circles on his thigh, she was climbing higher when she got interrupted by the waitress asking if the needed anything else. Akihiko looked at them and back to the waitress and politely thanking her service he refused. After smiling and leaving some strange coins on the table he stood up and looking at his partners he encouraged his partners to follow him. Kakashi gladly stood up and walked next to the prince, followed by a lazy Anko who approached the jounin stealthy and whispered to his ear "Later".
After a couple of hours of walking through the many stands installed on the wood roads, the trio decided it was time to head back to the castle and check if there was any news or changes. Some guards told them that the feudal lord was busy, still arranging the last details of the festival, both shinobi looked at each other and then to the prince which was stretching his arms to the air. After a couple of seconds he looked at both of his bodyguards and smiled pleased.
-Not to be rude but since I am the son of the feudal lord of this land I have assignments to do. So until the sun is set we'll meet again my fellow guardians.
And just with that three ladies appeared from the nowhere and escort him to his chambers. Anko and Kakashi waited a little more until the footsteps were long gone, then they looked at each other and sighed. Anko stretched herself and started to walk back to their room when she felt a well known hand on her right shoulder, without even turning her head she smiled and waited until he approached from the back, he didn't instead he walked by and lead the way. Knowing perfectly what he meant with that simple gesture, Anko followed him while smiling and almost skipping in the way. Once there Kakashi opened the door and let the kunoichi in, grinning like a spoiled brat ready to receive her Christmas present she closed the door and locked it.
-Well?.- cocking an eyebrow and crossing both arms on her chest.
The silver copy ninja smiled, just the reaction he expected from her. He walked to her and approaching his lips to her right ear he whispered.- Let's take advantage of this hours alone, with a bed and a tub Mrs. Hatake.
Anko nodded and jump into his arms, kissing him furiously and for the first time since she got to that place, she was happy for that fake surname.
-.-.-.-.-.-
A/N: Ok I know it's been ages since I post something, also that chap 22 was last year on September and also I know that this chapter is shorter than the average, but I needed to break the chapter here because I need to do some research on the plot because due to some serious research I noticed it is impossible to do what I had planned. So here I am again, yeah I'm still alive and ready to finish this Italian dessert :P hehe
Special thanks to kakashilover16 for being there always supporting me (cof cof forcing me cof cof) and TwoTails for giving me strength to take the keyboard and write.